Permaculture Solar House for Heating and Cooling
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Posted on Apr 18, 2013
Working with rather than against nature is a part of the permaculture ethic. Observing how in nature heat and cooling is transferred and preserved gives us many clues that can help us design our homes, agricultural systems, commercial buildings and industrial processes. Several observations come together to make passive solar systems work. First, heat rises or coolness descends. Second, in order to preserve either heat or coolness we must insulate or store. Thirdly, controlling the flow of these processes requires a means of opening and closing vents that are high and low. Fourth, orientation and the use of awnings provides a control over how long, during different times of the year, solar can be collected or reflected in order to moderate gain and losses.